Pricer Unveils 'Avenue' Platform for Smart Retail Shelves
At the EuroShop 2026 trade show, Pricer is showcasing its new Pricer Avenue™ communications platform. The technology is designed to create high-impact experiences at the shelf-edge in retail environments, enabling dynamic pricing, promotions, and product information.
- The Pricer Avenue platform utilizes a powered rail system, making the electronic shelf labels (ESLs) battery-free, which reduces maintenance and environmental waste. This rail architecture also provides continuous connectivity and power for future IoT devices and sensors. - A key feature is the "Floating Canvas," which allows multiple ESLs to be linked together to form larger, seamless displays for richer storytelling and promotional content at the shelf edge. - The system is designed to be modular and backward-compatible, allowing retailers to target high-impact areas like premium aisles or promotional zones rather than requiring a full-floor installation. A snap-and-lock rail system facilitates quick adjustments without disrupting store layouts. - Pricer's ESLs traditionally use near-infrared (IR) communication, a choice favoring low power consumption, high reliability, and resistance to interference. The entire system, including the new Avenue platform, is managed by Pricer Plaza, a cloud-based software ecosystem. - The global market for smart shelves was valued at $4.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $15.4 billion by 2030, driven by the retail industry's increasing adoption of IoT, AI, and automation to improve operational efficiency and customer experience. - Beyond pricing, the platform is engineered to improve store operations by using features like instant LED alerts to assist with tasks such as stock replenishment, order picking, and waste management. - The announcement is part of a larger trend at EuroShop 2026, where Artificial Intelligence is a key theme, with ESLs evolving from simple displays into "smart process assistants" that can guide employees and optimize daily tasks based on AI analysis of sales and inventory data. - Pricer's first live installation of the Avenue platform was recently completed with the East of England Co-op (EoE) in the UK, marking its commercial debut before the broader showcase at EuroShop.
